Can some major upgrades turn this seven-seat SUV into a class-leader?

2017 Nissan Pathfinder ST AWD new car review

Can some major upgrades turn this seven-seat SUV into a class-leader?

2017 Nissan Pathfinder ST AWD new car review

21 Jul 2017

Nissan is doubling down on the rise of SUVs.

Not only has the Japanese brand expanded its SUV range to include the Juke, Qashqai, X-Trail, Pathfinder and Patrol, Nissan Australia has axed most of its passenger car range. The Micra, Pulsar, Almera and Altima have all been dropped in the face of greater demand for SUVs.

While the Qashqai and X-Trail have proven popular and sit near the top of the sales charts in their respective segments, the same can't be said for the Pathfinder.

It isn't a commercial failure by any stretch, but it hasn't matched the likes of the Toyota Kluger, Holden Captiva and Mazda CX-9. That's despite a complete redesign of the Pathfinder concept in 2013, when it switched from an off-road friendly body-on-frame underpinnings to a more car-like/soft-roader set-up.

For 2017, it has been given a significant update, including an engine that the company claims is 50 per cent new as well as tweaked styling and more technology.

What do you get?

Nissan has an extensive range for the Pathfinder with two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models across three trim levels - ST, ST-L and Ti.

We're testing the ST AWD, which priced from $45,490 plus on-road costs, which is on par with its Toyota and Mazda rivals of similar specification.

It misses out on any active safety features that are available on the ST-L and Ti models but it does get a reversing camera and rear parking sensors to go with six airbags.

Servicing is required every 12-months/10,000km (whichever comes first) but thanks to Nissan's capped price servicing program over the first three years you'll spend a reasonable $977.

What's inside?

Photos: Mark Bean

The Pathfinder follows the same design pattern as the rest of Nissan's SUV range, so much so that the cabin looks like a scaled-up X-Trail. It is a practical design, lacking the detail and style of the likes of the CX-9 or Hyundai Santa Fe, but it does the job, offering good small item storage and all the major controls are intuitive.

What really impresses about the Pathfinder's cabin is the space and user friendly seating set-up.

Space in the second row is generous and it has a sliding function so you can trade-off room between it and the third row as needed.

Getting into that third row is easy thanks to Nissan's clever arrangement that means the push of a single lever tilts the second row seat forward and lets you slide it forward. That creates a large opening to access the third row.

The only criticism of the arrangement is that it's on the wrong side, the driver's side instead of the kerb side, a legacy of the US-led design of the SUV.

Space in the third row isn't the best in this class but it's not far off with decent head and legroom.

Under the bonnet

This is where the biggest changes for this updated model have been focused. As mentioned at the start the company claims approximately 50 per cent of the engine's components are new, even if it remains a 3.5-litre V6.

Power is now 202kW (up 12kW over the old engine) and torque is 340Nm (up 15Nm) which is more than adequate performance to get the big seven-seater moving. There's plenty of punch once you let the engine have a few revs to reach its optimum performance.

It's hampered by Nissan's decision to carry over the same continuously variable transmission (CVT) from the out-going model. It dulls the engine's performance and means it can be noisy under acceleration.

Despite the major changes to the engine, fuel economy has only improved by 0.2-litres per 100km to a still thirsty 10.1L/100km, which leaves it off the pace of the class best.

On the road

Nissan has also made changes to the ride and handling of the Pathfinder to try and make it more dynamic on the road, now that it no longer has any pretensions of being a serious off-roader.

The suspension has been stiffened to try and reduce body roll in cornering, and it has only be partially successful. While it is firmer and slightly flatter when cornering compared to the old model it still falls short of the dynamic benchmark in this class (the Mazda CX-9).

Another change is quicker steering which reduces the old model's off-centre deadzone but again falls short of offering the directness and feedback offered by the best-in-class.

Verdict

Nissan has made some small improvements to the Pathfinder, but they aren't enough to make it a stand-out in the crowded seven-seat SUV market.

It's let down by a thirsty engine and average on-road character but it offers up excellent interior space and practicality. And that may be more important to those in the market for a seven-seat SUV, which is good news for Nissan.